BKN-1, a bifunctional ligand, facilitates the tracking of mtG4s (G-quadruplexes, four-stranded DNA structures containing Hoogsteen bonds) formation via far-red emission and can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. This compound exhibits anti-tumor properties, potentially causing mtDNA loss, damaging mitochondrial integrity, reducing ATP levels, and triggering ROS imbalance, which can lead to apoptosis and autophagy [1].